Watch us destroy your every excuse not to travel more in 2017

At the start of each new year, most of us make promises to ourselves that we unfortunately tend not to keep. Disappointed, we shift these once-on-fire New Year’s Resolutions to something we’ll tackle with gusto next year.

Please don’t let this happen to one of the most popular resolutions: “I plan to travel more.”

If this goal is on your list—or it’s simply a fleeting wish you think you cannot logistically or financially obtain–let us be your cheerleader. We’re going to debunk the reasons that we tell ourselves we “cannot” travel by sharing ways to work around the excuses.

Let’s plan for it. For this year. Together. Because you deserve that vacation.

RELATED: 17 places to travel in 2017

I don’t have the time

We make time for the things that matter, especially if we know that they will make us happier humans. Studies show that experiences, and looking forward to those experiences (e.g. travel), increase our happiness. Who doesn’t want more of that?

The key to weaving in travel when you “don’t have the time” comes down to planning. If it’s taking time off from work that makes you nervous, request the time off several months, maybe even six months, in advance. You can even calendar it without having all the details in place for your trip, just so you have that travel period on the books.

Another option is to earmark weekends, or small chunks of days when you already have time off, to journey someplace not so far afield. Travel needn’t take you thousands of miles away from home; sometimes a few hundred miles will plant you in a wonderfully different culture rich with new experiences.

But seriously, work will fall apart without me

No, it won’t. Not if you plan accordingly. We’ve all worked in high-pressure, high-demand roles where the very thought of leaving the troops behind might give others a moment of pause. But wemake vacations work because we plan far in advance. The key is to know when you’ll be taking the one- to three-week chunks of time off and make sure you bust your bootie ahead of time to ensure that appropriate coverage is in place by the time you leave the office with suitcase in tow. In some cases, this foundation gets set several months in advance in order to leave colleagues and clients in good hands, with detailed coverage reports drafted before leaving. (HINT: It also helps to bring back souvenirs for helpful colleagues when you return.)

I don’t have the money

We totally get this. Travel can be expensive. Key word here: can.

First, nearly every destination has budget options. A quick Google search with your preferred destination’s name and “budget” will yield a ton of stories, blogs and resources that can help in your quest to maximize your travel dollars. It requires a little research and planning, which can befun when it’s a travel goal that really excites you!

Second, for any trip, big or small, the key is to start saving before you even know where you want to go. Open a free savings account and set up an auto-deposit each week from your checking account for an amount you’re comfortable with. Consider this your “travel fund nest egg” for the year. Also, instead of splurging on that $5 coffee each day—or whatever “unnecessary” spending you know that you can eliminate with some will power—apply that money toward your travel fund nest egg instead.

RELATED: Think travel is too pricey for you? Save big by signing upfor Orbitz Rewards!

I don’t know where to go

Visit your local bookstore. Wander into the travel section. Scan the options and pull titles off the shelves that call to you in the moment. Spend a little time surrounded, literally, by all of the options and see what inspiration might strike or try just wandering around the Orbitz blog and seeing what photos and stories catch your eye.

Talk to people. Make your intentions about wanting to travel known. Speak it aloud. Most people love talking about travel including where they’ve gone and where they’d like to go; you could learn something new through old-fashioned conversation.

There’s nobody to go with me

What’s stopping you from … taking yourself? Solo travel needn’t be scary. In fact, it can be one of the most rewarding and empowering things you do for yourself. Check out this collection of articles for tips and destination advice.

However, if you’re the type who needs company or prefers to share the experience with others, we get it. Our advice is to join an organized tour because you’ll have a ready-made group of travel companions with the rest of the tour group. You won’t be lonely while visiting sites on the itinerary or while dining at meal time; plus, you’ll have the opportunity to make new friends in the process of experiencing a new destination together.

There’s just too much family responsibility to go anywhere

Families need to plan for travel in advance—as far in advance as possible. Whether or not you want to take your kids along for the particular trip you have in mind obviously switches up tactics around the planning. Is it a family vacation, a couples retreat or a solo getaway?

If the kids are staying at home, involve family or friends in the planning stages early, as they’ll likely to be the ones watching your babies while you’re away. (And they’ll appreciate as much advanced notice as possible for their own planning.)

If you’re taking the kids along for the ride, choose destinations that are realistic in interest and budget. Will you and the kids enjoy what the destination has to offer? Turn it into a family event to look forward to because the memories made will inevitably be among the best of your life. Even the on-the-road hiccups that inevitable happen will be fun to recall years down the line. All of the advance planning is well worth those memories made. You can get started planning your family vacation here.

I don’t have a passport

Um, what’s stopping you from getting one? Apply today. It costs $150, and the process is not difficult. Start here to learn about what you need and where to go (many post offices process passports). The most important documents to have include: an authorized copy of your U.S. birth certificate (proof of citizenship); a U.S. driver’s license or military ID (proof of identity); two passport-size photos (chain grocery and drug stores provide this service); and a completed U.S. passport application form. Be sure to give yourself at least six weeks to obtain the passport before traveling to any destination that requires one; expedited passports are available, but cost an additional fee.

Keep in mind that you don’t need a passport to travel within the United States—you’ll have your pick of wonderful destination with a myriad of culturally rich and geographically diverse places to explore. Also worth considering are two Caribbean destinations that don’t require a U.S. passport: Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

But … it’s not safe to travel right now. Right?

Wrong. Don’tlet fear hold you back, unnecessarily. The U.S. State Department issues travel warnings for destinations the government deems unsafe for leisure travel. Heed these warnings and think twice before booking travel to these locales. Otherwise, the world is your oyster, whether you opt to venture near or far from home. Look forward to the journey by picking a destination that inspires your curiosity and wonder—and focus on that.

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